Brand ‘SX4’ is no stranger to the Indian car buyer. Launched in 2007, as a replacement to the ageing Baleno, the SX4 – marketed by the tagline ‘Men are back’ – is known for its prowess behind the wheel, and, therefore, for being a drivers’ car.

So what inspired Maruti to introduce a new ‘automatic’ variant of the SX4? Well, facing stiff competition from the likes of the Honda City, Maruti felt it was time to finally introduce the VVT (variable valve timing) engine technology and an automatic gearbox in the Indian market – both technologies which have been available overseas since the car was originally introduced in 2007.

In this instance, the automatic gearbox is certainly an ace up its sleeve, as it carves out a nice niche for itself in an otherwise competitive marketplace. This SX4 has a lot to offer, as we’re about to find out.

From the Outside



The exterior of the SX4 hasn’t undergone significant styling changes. What’s new is a honeycomb front grille, which provides a more sporty look to the front end, along with the option of an aggressive factory-fitted body kit if you’re interested in ‘boy-racer’ looks. Also new are a smart set of 10-spoke, 16-inch alloy wheels that further enhance the SX4’s curb appeal.

On the whole, the styling changes, although subtle, work well, and do give the SX4 a new lease on life. The longevity of the body kit, however, did come into question, as it was already showing signs of mild abuse sustained on our less than perfect roads. It also serves to negate one of the SX4’s inherent advantages, which is good ground clearance to effectively counter the many obstacles on our city streets.

From the inside



The interior in the top end variant now comes with a lot of beige, which gives it an airy feel. The dashboard is now in two-tone beige, although the center console with an integrated stereo and automatic climate control is still in black – flanked on both sides by very modern looking pieces of aluminum trim. The seats are also in beige leather upholstery, and, like most of the other materials in the car, are of quite good quality. The multi-function steering wheel is also wrapped in beige leather, and looks and feels quite nice as a result.

To add to this up-market feel, the door panels also have faux wood trim, which can, at times, look and feel cheap. In this case, however, it’s nicely executed and woks well in the car. Of course, the big change here is the lack of a clutch pedal, as well as the addition of a dead pedal to rest the drivers’ left foot – something that was sorely missing on the original SX4. Coupled with that, of course, is the gated automatic shift lever in place of the traditional 5-speed manual.

The driving position in the SX4 is good. The ride height is quite high, which aids all-round visibility – with the exception of front three-quarter vision that is, which is still impeded by the thick A-pillars.

On the technology and safety front, to bring the SX4 up to date, the center console now has the obligatory USB port, which can be used to connect your iPod. In addition, the top end variant offers safety features such as ABS, EBD and dual airbags as standard fitments.

On the road



The new SX4 comes with the option of a 4-speed automatic transmission, which aims to make city driving a relaxing experience. It also comes with a 1.6-litre, in-line four cylinder, VVT (variable valve timing) petrol engine that generates an output of 104bhp at 5,600 rpm and 107lb/ft of torque at 4,100 rpm. And, whereas power output hasn’t changed much from the previous version, the engine is more tractable in city driving, while also being considerably more fuel efficient courtesy of VVT.

The SX4 automatic does, however, lose one gear to the Honda City automatic, which is a 5-speed. Having said that, in city driving, you don’t really miss the additional gear, as the 4-speed is quite adequate. The shifts themselves are smooth, and kickdown is reasonably quick when a burst of acceleration is needed. The acceleration itself is naturally more sluggish than the manual version, but once again adequate for the city, and you do feel the benefits of the variable valve timing technology when you step on the accelerator pedal.



The Honda City also trumps the SX4 because, like the Civic, it has steering mounted paddles to manually shift gears. The SX4 has a more traditional automatic gate, which features ‘L’ for low range, which can be used to climb steep hills. And if you wish to downshift manually, you can do so by shifting the lever into D-3 and D-2. At the end of the day, however, the automatic is a convenience device, so it’s best to just leave it in ‘Drive,’ and let the car do the rest – besides, where the SX4 loses out in terms of driver involvement, it more than makes up for in value-for-money, as it’s around a lakh-and-a-half lighter on your wallet than the City Auto.

The ride and handling is unchanged from before, which means that it’s still the highlight of the SX4 – courtesy of its very capable and stiff chassis. The JK Vectras, once again, provide ample grip and good ride quality. The electronic power steering is linear, but does appear to self center more aggressively than before. On the whole, though, the driving experience is more than adequate for in-city use.

Verdict



Maruti has done well to tweak the SX4 – not by much, but just enough to bring it up to date, and make it fresh and inviting once again. Add the VVT engine and automatic gearbox to the mix, and you have an already competent car made even better and more inviting than before. Their trump card, of course, is providing buyers with the option of an automatic transmission sedan in the 8.5 lakh range – something that Maruti’s counting on to help it gain market-share.

The chassis of the SX4 is still very capable, but the automatic gearbox means that it’s now more of a convenient city slicker, rather than an all-out drivers’ car. It can still be fun to drive, but it isn’t involving in the way that the manual transmission is – plus the drone from the engine, which is symptomatic of a four cylinder engine mated to a four-speed auto, means you’ll be happy to
put the car in Drive, and try not to worry about our congested city streets as you listen to your favorite
tunes on your iPod.

The verdict, then, is that the SX4 is still a very competent car – made more efficient by the VVT, and considerably more convenient by the automatic gearbox.